RISI COMPETIZIONE ANNOUNCE BERETTA AND MALUCELLI FOR 2013 ALMS

Feb10

Shortly after the announcement that North America’s most successful Ferrari GT team would be returning to competition in the 2013 American Le Mans Series, Houston-based Risi Competizione is pleased to announce its driver line up.

Ferrari Corse Clienti’s five-time ALMS GTS/GT1 champion Olivier Beretta, a name which needs no introduction to ALMS fans and audiences, will be joined for the season by former Italian GT Champion and 2008 FIA GT vice-champion, Matteo Malucelli. The 28-year-old Italian will be making his debut in the series but has considerable expertise behind the wheel of many different GT marques including Ferrari.

Monaco-born Beretta, 43, will be bringing his significant and sizeable bank of experience of the USA and Canada’s premier tracks to Risi Competizione. On top of his ALMS Drivers’ titles, Beretta has six class wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two FIA GT Championship titles and an overall victory in the 2000 Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona to his name. The Monaco resident became a Ferrari factory driver in 2012 after eight seasons with GM’s Corvette Racing team and thus is very familiar with all the challenges and competition within the ALMS’ GT category.

Risi Competizione’s third driver for the 12 Hours of Sebring will be announced in due course.

Team Principal, Giuseppe Risi, is upbeat about the driver line up he has brought together for the season ahead: “In Olivier and Matteo we have an excellent combination of speed, youth and experience with which to launch our assault on the championship, and I have high hopes for this partnership.”

Both drivers will be present at next week’s Winter Test to drive Risi’s new Ferrari 458 Italia GT in preparation for the opening round of the season on Saturday, March 16 at Sebring International Raceway in Florida.